IBM i Storage Management Software

IBM i Storage Management Overview

Storage management software in this category is the licensing layer that runs and monitors external SAN storage attached to an IBM i environment, not the physical drives or arrays themselves. IBM Storage Virtualize is the software that runs IBM FlashSystem arrays, handling compression, encryption, replication, and tiering. IBM Storage Insights adds cloud-based monitoring and capacity analytics on top of that layer.

For AS400/IBM i buyers, this category comes up once external SAN storage, including FlashSystem, is added to the environment, since the array's software licensing and monitoring are evaluated separately from the physical hardware and part numbers. See AS400System.com for the FlashSystem hardware and FlashCore Module part number side of that same decision.

IBM i Storage Management Features to Evaluate

• Replication and high-availability licensing (synchronous or asynchronous, including HyperSwap-style configurations)
• Encryption and compression licensing scope, since some tiers are bundled and others are add-on
• Automated tiering (Easy Tier or equivalent) licensing across flash and lower-cost media
• Cloud-based monitoring and capacity analytics coverage
• Multi-platform management scope if the array also serves AIX, Linux, or Windows alongside IBM i

IBM i Storage Management Implementation Considerations

Buyers should confirm which Storage Virtualize features are included in the base array license versus sold as separate add-on licensing before budgeting a FlashSystem-attached storage project, since replication, encryption, and tiering are commonly priced as distinct entitlements. Monitoring and analytics licensing should be evaluated separately from the array's core operating license.

IBM i Storage Management Software Directory